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the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Ian Livingston will take on the role of Minister of State for Trade and Investment in December 2013, succeeding Lord Green.

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Ian Livingston as a Minister of State jointly at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as of December 2013 on the retirement from government of Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint.

The Prime Minister is delighted to confirm that Ian Livingston will take on the role as Minister of State for Trade and Investment, succeeding Lord Green, later this year.

Mr Livingston, who is currently the Chief Executive of BT, will take up the role in December this year, at which time Lord Green will retire from government. As Trade and Investment Minister, Mr Livingston will continue the work Lord Green has undertaken to help Britain compete in the global race; growing the UK’s exports and attracting further investment from overseas.

The Prime Minister thanked Lord Green for his important contribution since 2011, saying:

Stephen Green has made a huge contribution to promoting trade and investment. He has led the reform and rejuvenation of UK Trade & Investment, which now assists a significantly greater number of SMEs to export around the globe. He has also helped to secure vital investments such as the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, while pushing forward my trade policy agenda with a particular focus on the EU-US trade negotiations. I look forward to continuing our work together over the next six months and wish him the very best as he retires from government.

On Mr Livingston’s appointment he said:

I’m delighted that Ian Livingston has agreed to succeed Stephen. He is an outstanding business leader and it is a testament to the importance of this role that he has agreed to serve in the government in this capacity. I know that he will make an invaluable contribution to this agenda as the government continues to open new trade links and grow our exports and I very much look forward to working with him.

Lord Green said:

I am proud to have served as trade minister for the past two and a half years. This has been one of the most rewarding roles of my entire career. And I am looking forward to another six months of promoting trade and investment through - among many other activities - trade missions to the Americas, Asia, and Africa. I’m very pleased the PM has decided to appoint Ian Livingston to take on this role. He is an outstanding businessman and will be an outstanding trade minister to continue this work.

Mr Livingston said:

While it has been an immensely difficult decision to step down from my role at BT, it is a huge honour to be asked by the Prime Minister to take on this role. The government has shown great commitment to the promotion of UK trade and investment. I am looking forward to the important work ahead.

Notes to editors

Mr Livingston will succeed Lord Green as the government’s spokesman for trade and investment in the House of Lords.

BT has today announced that Mr Livingston will be stepping down as Chief Executive from September 2013.

The position, which is unpaid, will report to both the Secretary of State for Business and the Foreign Secretary.

The Queen has been pleased to signify Her intention of conferring a peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on Ian Livingston.